Lifting jack



Oct. J

A. C. HOPKINS LIFTING JACK Filed- March 18,

gwoenloz firfhur C. Hopkins In 2 ww/v attoz ma d to line 22 of Figs. III and IV.

Paremeaoa. 27, 1925. a I 1,559,099 UNH'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F NILES, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL STANDARD ARTHUR C. HOPKINS, O

COMPANY, OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

LIFTING JACK.

Application filed March 18, 1925. Serial- No. 18,356.

j on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Figs.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. HOPKINS, I and II. I I I a citizen of the United States, residing at Fig. V is an enlarged detail section on a' Niles, cou'nty of Berrien, State of Michigan, line corresponding to'line 55of Fig. III, have invented certain new and useful Imshowing details of the pawl control means. provements in Lifting Jacks, of-which the In the drawing the sectional views are following is a specification. taken looking in the direction of the little This invention relates to improvements in arrows at the ends of the section lines and lifting jacks. similar numerals of reference indicate, simi- My present improvements relate to the lar parts in all of the views. type of lifting jack shown in my applica- Referring to the drawing, the frame of tion for Letters Patent filed November 6, the embodiment illustrated comprises a pair 1924:, Serial No. 7 48,104, the same being in of side members 1 having laterallyproject- .some respects an improvement over and aning arms 2 at the rear ends thereof to readaptation of certain features of the struc ceive the spindles of the standards 3 of the ture of that application. caster wheels 4. The frame members 1 are The main objects of this, invention are: skeletonized for the sake of lightness.

First, to providean improved lifting jack The front yoke-shaped frame member 5 of the dolly type which may be very is secured to the front ends of the side memeasily manipulated to the position in which bers, the arms of the yoke beln suitably it is desired to use the same and may be conformed to receive the side mem rs. The moved about in realtively confined areas front frame member 5 has a forwardly pro-' such as restricted spaces in garages, between jecting arm 6 with a downwardly facing automobiles, and the like. recess 7 therein adapted to receive the axle Second, to provide an improved lifting 8 of the front wheels 9. The axle is pivjack which may be very quickly adjusted to otally supported in this recess by means of and from the work and at the same time has the conical pivots 10 arranged through the a lifting means which is verypowerful. 1 front and rear walls of the recess sothat the Third,to provide in a lifting jack an impivot was of the axle 15 disposed longitudiproved means for adjusting the lifting nally and centrally of the frame. The

v ans to raise nd l r th l d, wheels 9 are of such dlameter that the Objects pertaining to details and econframe may be swung to an upright position oniies of. construction and operation of myand moved about on the wheels; that is, the improvements will definitely appear from peripheries of the wheels project beyond the the detailed dcscriptionto follow. end of the frame.

I accomplish the objects of my invention The actuating lever 11 is pivotally mountby the devices and means described in the ed at the rear of the frame to constitute a following specification. The invention is tongue or steering means for manipulating clearly defined and pointed. out in the the structure on Its wheels, either when in claims. horizontal or in upright position. I thus A structure embodying the featuresof my secure a three-point support, the front invention is clearly illustrated in the accomwheels adjusting themselves to' any uneven panying drawing forming a part of this surfaces in the floor or ground thereby feapplication, in which: hevmg the frame of-undue strain and add- Fig. I is a perspective view of a lifting ing to the stability of the structure when 100 jack embodying'the features of my invenunder load. V tion, the actuating lever being partially The lifting meanscomprises the lifting broken away. I lever '12 which is pivoted at 13 and carries Fig. II is a detail view mainly in central the lifting head 14, the head being pivotally longitudinal section on a line corresponding mounted on the lever at 15. The lifting head or saddle is su ported in its upright position by means 0 the link; 16' which is pivoted to the head at 17 and to the frame at 18 thereby providing for a rallel movement of the link with the lifting lever; and

To all whom it may concern:

Fig. III is a transverse vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Figs. I and II. j

Fig. IV is a transverse vertical section ratchet is also provided with a gear 25.

The lifting lever 11 is pivoted 011 the hangers 26 depending from the support 19, the lever being mounted on the pivot 27 carried by these hangers. The lever is forked and has a pawl 28 mounted on each arm to coact with the ratchet on opposite sides of its axis so that the lifting lever may be raised or lowered by throwing the proper pawl into operative relation to the ratchet. The means'for accomplishing this consists of a control member 29 rotatably mounted on the lever pivot 27 and provided with opposed cars 30 through which the retracting rods 31 are slidably arranged. These'rods have pins 32 at their outer ends thus providing for a lost motion connection between the rods and the ears. The rods are'pivoted at 33 to the pawls and have the springs 34 mounted'thereon to be placed under compression when the control member is adjusted to throw a pawl into operative relation.

The control member is manipulated by the adjusting rod 3.5 which is disposed longitudinally of the actuating lever. v

To facilitate the rapid adjustment of the lifting means to and from the work I provide a pinion 36 which is mounted on the shaft 37 carried by the upwardly projecting ears 38 on the support 19, the shaft havin a. hand wheel 39. By this means the lifting lever ma be quickly raised or lowered to or froin t e work. v

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain other embodiments or adaptations as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

' Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a liftingjack, the combination of a frame, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a screw support pivotally mounted on said frame, anactuating screw mounted on said support to coact with said lifting lever, a ratchet driving member having t readed engagement with'said screw, said driving member being provided with a gear, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of pawls mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, a pawl control member rotatably mounted on the lever pivot and provided with oppositely disposed ears, pawl retracting rods having lost motion connections with said ears, pawl engaging springs arranged on said rods and adapted to be alternately .placed under compression, a pinion mounted on said support to coact with said gear on said driving member and provided with a hand wheel to facilitate the rapid adjustment of the lifting lever to and from the work, and an adjusting rod for said control member, disposed longitudinally of said actuating lever.

2. In a lifting jack, the combination of a frame, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a screw support pivotally'mounted on said frame, an actuating screw mount ed on said supportto coact with said lifting lever, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement with said screw, said driving member being provided with a gear, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of pawls mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of'its axis, a pawl control member rotatably mounted on the lever pivot and provided with oppositely disposed ears, pawl retracting rods having lost motion connections with said ears, pawl engaging springs arranged'on said rods and adapt ed to be alternately placed under compression, and a pinion mounted on said support to coact with said gear on said driving memher and provided with a hand wheel to facilitate the rapid adjustment of the lifting lever to and from the work;

3. In a lifting jack, the combination of a frame, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a screw support pivot-ally mounted on said frame, an actuating screw mounted on said sup-port to coact with said lifting lever, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement with said screw, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said support, apair of pawls mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, a pawl control member rotatably mounted on the lever pivot and provided with oppositely disposed ears, pawl retracting rods having lost motion connections with said ears, pawl engaging springs arranged on said rods and adapted to be alternately placed under compression, and an adjusting rod for said control member disposed longitudinally of said actuating lever.

4. In a lifting jack, the combination of a frame, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a screw support pivotally mounted on said frame, an actuating screw mounted on saidsuppor to c ast ith said lif g lever, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement wlth saidscrew, an actuating lever pivotall mounted on said support, a pair of paw s mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, a pawl control member 'rotatably, mounted on the lever pivot and provided with oppositely disposed ears, pawl retracting rods having lost motion connections with said ears, and pawl engaging springs arranged on said rods and adapted to be alternately placed under compresslon.

5. In a ed on said frame, an actuatmg screwmounted on said support to coact with said-lifting lever, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement with said screw, said driving member being provided with a gear, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of pawls mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, and a pinion of pawls mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, a rotatably mounted pawl control member provided withoppositely disposed ears, pawl retracting rods having lost motion connections with said ears, pawl engaging springs arranged on'said rods to be alternately placed under compression by the adj ustment of said control member, and a pin- 7 ion coacting with said gear on said driving member and provided with a hand wheel to facilitate the rapid adjustment of the lifting member to and from the work.-

7. In'a lifting jack, the combination "of a frame, a lifting member mounted on said frame, an actuating screw arranged to coaet with said lifting member, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement with said screw, an actuating lever, a pair of pawls mounted on saidactuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, a rotatably mounted p'awl'control member provided with oppositely disposed ears, pawl retracting rods having lost motion connections with said ears, and pawl engaging springs arranged on said rods to be alter nately placed under compression by the adjustment of said control member.

lifting jack, the combination of a 1 frame, a lifting lever pivotallymounted on said frame, a screw supportpivotally mount-v 8. In a lifting jack, the combination of a frame, a lifting member mounted on said frame, an actuating screw arrangedto coact with said lifting member, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement with said screw, said driving member being pro.- vided with a gear, an actuatinglever, a pair of pawls mountedon said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its axis, means for selectively holding said pawls in inoperativepositions, and a pinion coacting with said gear .on said driving member and provided with a hand wheel tofacilitate the rapid adjustment of the lifting member to andfrom the work.

9. In a lifting jack, the combination'of a frame, a lifting member mounted onsaid frame, an actuating screw arranged to coact with said lifting member, a ratchet driving member having threaded engagement with .said screw,.a pair of pawls mounted on said actuating lever to coact with said ratchet on opposite sides of its-axis,-means for selectively holding said pawls in inoperative positions, and means independent of said actu ating lever for rotating said driving meme her to facilitate therapid adjustment ofithe lifting member to and from the work.

10. In a lifting jack, the combination of a frame comprising a pairof horizontally disposed spaced side members having laterally projecting arms at the rear ends thereof and a yoke-like front cross member having its arms secured to the front ends of said side members, said front frame member having I a downwardly facing recess at its front end, caster wheels inonnted on said arms, an axle disposed in said recess in said front frame member, pivots for said axle disposed on said front frame member centrally and longitudinally of the frame to support said axle in said recess, wheels on said axle, said frame to be swung. to an upright position on the axle, a lifting means carried by said frame, and an actuating lever for said lifting means mounted at the rear end of the frame to constitute a tongue therefor.-

11. In a lifting jack, the combination of a frame comprising a pair of horizontally disposed spaced side members having laterally projecting arms at the rear ends thereof and a yoke-like front cross member having its arms secured to the front ends, of said side members, said front frame member having a downwardly facing recess at itsfront end, caster wheels mounted on said arms, an axle disposed in said recess in said front frame member, pivots 'for said axle disposed '1'!!!" on said front frame member centrally and longitudinally of the frame to support said axle in said recess, wheels on said axle, and a lifting means carried by said frame.

wheels being of a diameter permitting the 12. In a lifting jack, the combination of a Y frame comprising a pair of horizontally dis- 15 position.

posed spaced side members and a yoke-like front cross member having its arms secured to the front ends of said side members, caster Wheels at'the rear of said frame, an axle pivotally mounted in said front frame member with its pivot axis centrally and longitudinally of the frame, Wheels on said axle, said Wheels being of a diameter permitting the frame to be swung to an upright position on the axle, a lifting means carried by said frame, and an actuating lever for said lifting means mounted at the rear end of the frame to constitute a tongue therefor with the frame in horizontal or in upright 13. In a lifting jaek,'the combination of a frame comprising a pair of horizontally disposed spaced side members and a yoke-like front cross member having its arms secured to the front ends of said side members, caster Wheels at the rear of said frame, an

axle pivotally mounted on said front frame member with its pivot axis centrally and longitudinally of the frame, Wheels on said axle, said Wheels being-of a diameter permitting the frame to be swung to an upright position on the axle, and a lifting means carried by said frame.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR C. HOPKINS. 

